Lewis Hamilton has said Kimi Antonelli deserves to be Formula 1 world champion and says it shows he was right to tell Mercedes to promote the Italian into his seat when he left the team.

When Hamilton announced his intention to leave Mercedes, he was adamant that if he were team boss Toto Wolff, then he would pick Antonelli to replace him along side George Russell.

Hamilton's fourth place in the US GP in Austin is one of the two results that stopped Antonelli from being crowned last weekend, and the Briton goes into the Mexico City Grand Prix as one of only two drivers who can still catch him.

Hamilton backs Mercedes' call on his successor

Hamilton's move to Ferrari for 2025 opened the door for Antonelli to step up to F1, which happened earlier than planned. Hamilton said he saw it coming well before he left Brackley. "When I was [at Mercedes], I knew who was going to be replacing me. Kimi was around the team, following us a lot, particularly in the last year that I was there," he said.

The seven-time champion thought back to Antonelli's junior years too. "Kimi had shown his abilities in the lower categories and his enthusiasm, his charm and his good approach to everything," he said. He also acknowledged how much pressure comes with a debut at a top team. "In his first year, it's tough for anybody going into a seat like that, into a team like that, and getting up and running with all the expectations on your shoulders," Hamilton said. "But he's really taken it in his stride. It's been really great to see his performances this year. It's massively impressive, and he deserves to be the champion."

When he was asked what advice he had for the championship leader, Hamilton joked: "Slow down." He then got serious. "He doesn't need any advice," he said, pointing to Antonelli's talent, his calmness and the way he goes about his work.

Hamilton still alive as Antonelli eyes Mexico

Antonelli won from pole in Austin, his ninth victory of the season. That put him on 365 points with five rounds to go. Hamilton finished fourth behind Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen, and George Russell came home eighth after a five-second penalty. Those results kept both Britons in contention, but only just: Russell is 123 points behind and Hamilton 124, with 125 still available, yet Hamilton has already admitted defeat in the title race.

Antonelli needs just two points on Sunday to seal the crown and he can become champion without scoring at all if neither Russell nor Hamilton wins. Hamilton is now fighting for second place instead. He sits third on 241 points, one behind Russell, with Verstappen six points further back.

Hamilton won six titles with Mercedes, and he admitted he has a soft spot for the team. "If it's not my team, I'd always want to see my old team do well," he said.